DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

MAIN TOPICS

 Nature of Dimensional Analysis

 Flow Similarity and Model Studies

 Buckingham Pi Theorem

 Significant Dimensionless Groups in Fluid

Mechanics
 OBJECTIVES
1. Understand dimensions, units, and dimensional
homogeneity
2. Understand benefits of dimensional analysis
3. Know how to use the method of repeating
variables
4. Understand the concept of similarity and how to
apply it to experimental modeling
 DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

 Dimensional analysis is used when constructing physical

models of prototype structures.

 Physical models are used when the fluid flow is particularly

complex and difficult to analyse by other means.

 Dimensional analysis enables physical measurements -

forces, velocities etc. - taken from the scale models to be
converted to the equivalent measurement which would be
found on a prototype.
 SIMILARITY AND MODEL TESTING
•Definition : Flow conditions for a model test are completely similar if all relevant
dimensionless parameters have the same corresponding values for model and prototype.

• Pi model = Pi prototype = 1

• Enables extrapolation from model to full scale

• However, complete similarity usually not possible. Therefore, often it is necessary

to use dimensionless numbers e.g. Re, or Fr, or Ma scaling, i.e., select most
important Pi and accommodate others as best possible.

•Types of similarity:
• Geometric Similarity : all body dimensions have the same linear-scale ratios.

• Kinematic Similarity : all velocities are in the same ratio - requires geometric
similarity

• Dynamic Similarity : Dynamic similarity exists between geometrically and

kinematically similar systems if the ratios of all forces in the model and prototype
4
are the same.
• Complete similarity is ensured if all independent π groups
are the same between model and prototype.
• What is π ?
– π denote a nondimensional parameter, e.g., Reynolds number Re,
Froude number Fr, Drag coefficient, CD, etc.

• Consider automobile experiment

• Drag force is F = f(V, , L)
• Through dimensional analysis, we can
reduce the problem to:

F
 DIMENSIONS AND UNITS

 Any physical situation can be described by certain familiar properties e.g.

length, time, mass, velocity, area, volume, acceleration etc. These are all known
as dimensions.

 Units: Assignment of a number to a dimension, e.g., (m), (sec), (kg)

 7 Primary Dimensions:

1. Mass m (kg)
2. Length L (m)
3. Time T (sec)
4. Temperature θ (K)
5. Current I (A)
6. Amount of Light C (cd)
7. Amount of matter N (mol)

All non-primary dimensions can be formed by a combination of the 7 primary

dimensions

Examples: {Velocity} m/sec = Length/Time = LT-1

{Force} N = ma = kgm/s2 = MLT-2

 Quantity SI Unit . Dimension
velocity m/s ms-1 LT-1
acceleration m/s2 ms-2 LT-2
N
force
kg m/s2 kg ms-2 M LT-2
Joule J
energy (or work) N m,
kg m2/s2 kg m2s-2 ML2T-2
Watt W
power N m/s Nms-1
kg m2/s3 kg m2s-3 ML2T-3
Pascal P,
pressure ( or stress) N/m2, Nm-2
kg/m/s2 kg m-1s-2 ML-1T-2
density kg/m3 kg m-3 ML-3
N/m3
specific weight
kg/m2/s2 kg m-2s-2 ML-2T-2
a ratio 1
relative density .
no units no dimension
N s/m2 N sm-2
viscosity
kg/m s kg m-1s-1 M L-1T-1
N/m Nm-1
surface tension
kg /s2 kg s-2 MT-2
 DIMENSIONAL HOMOGENEITY
Any equation describing a physical situation will only be true if both
sides have the same dimensions. That is it must be dimensionally
homogenous.
For example the equation which gives for FLOWRATE over a
rectangular weir is:

The SI units of the left hand side are m3s-1. The units of the right hand
side must be the same. Writing the equation with only the SI units gives
 Nature of Dimensional Analysis
The result of performing dimensional analysis on a physical problem is
a single equation. This equation relates all of the physical factors
involved to one another.

Example:
 If we want to find the force on a propeller blade we must first decide
what might influence this force.

 It would be reasonable to assume that the force, F, depends on the

following physical properties:

- diameter, d
- forward velocity of the propeller (velocity of the plane), u
- fluid density, ρ
- revolutions per second, N
- fluid viscosity, µ
Before we do any analysis we can write this equation:

F = ϕ ( d, u, ρ, N, µ )
or
0 = ϕ1 ( F, d, u, ρ, N, µ)

where f and f1 are unknown functions.

These can be expanded into an infinite series which can itself be
reduced to:
F = K dm up q Nr s
where K is some constant and m, p, q, r, s are unknown constant
powers.
 From dimensional analysis we:
(i) obtain these powers
(ii) form the variables into several dimensionless groups
 Buckingham Pi Theorem
1st ptheorem:
A relationship between m variables (physical properties such
as velocity, density etc.) can be expressed as a relationship
between m-n non-dimensional groups of variables (called p
groups), where n is the number of fundamental dimensions
(such as mass, length and time) required to express the
variables.

In fluids, we can normally take n = 3 (corresponding to M, L,

T).
2nd ptheorem:
Each p group is a function of n governing or repeating variables plus
one of the remaining variables.
Choice of repeating variables (RULES TO FOLLOW):

(i) From the 2nd theorem there can be n ( = 3) repeating variables.

(ii) When combined, these repeating variables, variable must contain all
of dimensions (M, L, T)
(That is not to say that each must contain M, L and T).
(iii) A combination of the repeating variables must not form a
dimensionless group.
(iv) The repeating variables do not have to appear in all p groups.
(v) The repeating variables should be chosen to be measurable in an
experimental investigation. They should be of major interest to the
designer.
- For example, pipe diameter (dimension L) is more useful and
measurable than roughness height (also dimension L).
Example
Taking the example discussed above of force F induced on a propeller
blade, we have the equation
0 = f ( F, d, u, , N,  )
n = 3 and m = 6
There are m - n = 3 p groups, so
f ( p1 , p2 , p3 ) = 0
The choice of , u, d as the repeating variables satisfies the criteria
above. They are measurable, good design parameters and, in
combination, contain all the dimension M, L and T. We can now form the
three groups according to the 2nd theorem,
As the p groups are all dimensionless i.e. they have dimensions M0L0T0
we can use the principle of dimensional homogeneity to equate the
dimensions for each p group.

For the first p group,

In terms of SI units:

And in terms of dimensions:

For each dimension (M, L or T) the powers must be equal on both sides
of the equation, so
for M: 0 = a1 + 1
a1 = -1
for L: 0 = -3a1 + b1 + c1 + 1
0 = 4 + b1 + c 1
for T: 0 = -b1 - 2
b1 = -2
c1 = -4 - b1 = -2
Giving π as:
And a similar procedure is followed for the other p groups. Group

For each dimension (M, L or T) the powers must be

equal on both sides of the equation, so
for M: 0 = a2
for L: 0 = -3a2 + b2 + c2
0 = b2 + c2
for T: 0 = -b2 - 1
b2 = -1
c2 = 1
Giving π2 as:
And for the third,

For each dimension (M, L or T) the powers must be equal on both sides
of the equation, so
for M: 0 = a3 + 1
a3 = -1
for L: 0 = -3a3 + b3 + c3 -1
b3 + c3 = -2
for T: 0 = -b3 - 1
b3 = -1
c3 = -1
Giving p3 as:
Thus the problem may be described by the following function of the
three non-dimensional p groups, ϕ ( p1 , p2 , p3 ) = 0

This may also be written:

 TUTORIAL
1. A stationary sphere in water moving at a velocity of
1.6m/s experiences a drag of 4N. Another sphere of twice
the diameter is placed in a wind tunnel. Find the velocity
of the air and the drag which will give dynamically similar
conditions. The ratio of kinematic viscosities of air and
water is 13, and the density of air 1.28 kg/m3.
SOLUTION
Draw up the table of values you have for each variable:

variable water air

u 1.6m/s uair
Drag 4N Dair
13
 

ρ 1000 kg/m3 1.28 kg/m3

d d 2d

Kinematic viscosity is dynamic viscosity over density = n = /

The Reynolds number =

Choose the 3 recurring (governing) variables; u, d, 
From Buckinghams p theorem we have m-n = 5 - 3 = 2 non-dimensional
groups.

As each p group is dimensionless then considering the dimensions, for

the first group, p1:
M] 0 = c1 + 1
c1 = -1
(note D is a force with dimensions MLT-2)
L] 0 = a1 + b1 - 3c1 + 1
-4 = a1 + b1
T] 0 = -a1 - 2
a1 = - 2
b1 = -2
And the second group p2 :
M] 0 = c2
L] 0 = a2 + b2 - 3c2 + 2
-2 = a2 + b2
T] 0 = -a2 - 1
a2 = -1
b2 = -1
So the physical situation is described by this function of nondimensional
numbers,

For dynamic similarity these non-dimensional numbers are the same

for the both the sphere in water and in the wind tunnel i.e.

For p1:
For p2 :
2. Water flows through a 2 cm diameter pipe at 1.6m/s with kinematic
viscosity of 1.31x10-6 m2/s and the density of 1000 kg/m3.
i. Calculate the Reynolds number and find also the velocity required to
give the same Reynolds number when the same pipe is transporting
air. For air the kinematic viscosity is 15.1x10-6 m2/s and the density
is 1.19kg/m3.
ii. Obtain the ratio of pressure drops in the same length of pipe for both
cases.
SOLUTION
Draw up the table of values you have for each variable:
variable water air
u 1.6m/s uair
p pwater pair

ρ 1000 kg/m3 1.19kg/m3

n 1.31 x 10-6m2/s 15.1 x 10-6m2/s

d 0.02m 0.02m

Kinematic viscosity is dynamic viscosity over density = n = /.

The Reynolds number =

Reynolds number when carrying water:

To calculate Reair we know,

To obtain the ratio of pressure drops we must obtain an expression for the pressure
drop in terms of governing variables.

Choose the three recurring (governing) variables; u, d, .

From Buckingham's p theorem we have m-n = 5 - 3 = 2 non-dimensional groups.

As each p group is dimensionless then considering the dimensions, for the first group,
p1 :

M] 0 = c1
L] 0 = a1 + b1 - 3c1 + 2
-2 = a1 + b1
T] 0 = -a1 - 1
a1 = -1
b1 = -1

And the second group p2 :

(note p is a pressure (force/area) with dimensions ML-1T-2)

M] 0 = c2 + 1
c2 = -1
L] 0 = a2 + b2 - 3c2 - 1
-2 = a2 + b2
T] 0 = -a2 - 2
a2 = - 2
b2 = 0
So the physical situation is described by this function of non-dimensional numbers,

For dynamic similarity these non-dimensional numbers are the same for the both
water and air in the pipe.

We are interested in the relationship involving the pressure i.e. p2

Significant Dimensionless Groups in Fluid Mechanics
• Reynolds Number
Mach Number

• Froude Number

Weber Number

• Euler Number

Cavitation Number